The National Treasury of Iran located in the Central
Bank, on Tehrans Ferdowsi Avenue, is home to the most exceptional
jewels of the country. It is officially named The Treasury of
National Jewels but is commonly referred to as the Jewelry
Museum. The museum is only open to the public 3 days a week
from 2 to 4 in the afternoon and according to a law made by Reza Shah
that is still in force today, the governments representatives
are required to be present while the collection is open to the public.
The Crown Jewels of Iran are by far the largest and most dazzling
jewel collection in the world. So valuable is the collection that
it backs the Iranian national currency as a reserve.

It is very difficult to describe ones feelings
when entering a room full of shining and glittering jewels, especially
if those jewels are closely connected to ones national identity
and history.
Simply said the National Treasury of Iran is a sea of light!

The collection, independent of its cultural and historical aspects,
is a joy to see. The dim lights of the main room could hardly veil
the constant glitter of the beautiful diamonds all over the room.
But diamonds are not the only shining objects. There are tons and
tons of gold, rubies, emeralds, and pearls. Its hard to manage
to look at very closely, let alone remember, all the objects in the
collection and of course it is very difficult to choose one over the
others. There are hundreds of small boxes and watches, so many shining
tiaras, necklaces, bracelets and pins, each just as beautiful as the
next.

In the middle of the room, in a separate cabinet, I saw a famous sight,
one that had filled many of my childhood fantasies. It is a beautiful
globe made of 35-kg pure gold and 51,366 pieces of jewelry. Made by
the order of Nasir Al Din Shah of the Qajar Dynasty, on this globe
the water is emerald and the earth is ruby. Iran and England are displayed
with diamonds. The globe stands 110 cm high (44") and has a diameter
of 45 cm. (18 inches) and is covered with over 51 thousand gemstones.
The seas and oceans are shown with emeralds. Land masses are mostly
displayed in rubies and spinels. Iran, Britain, France, and parts
of South Asia are shown in diamonds. Approximately 35 kilograms (75
pounds) of pure gold is used in the globe.

But even here among all these shiny objects, it is hard for me to
separate myself from the history I know all too well and to simply
judge each object for its beauty and worth and not its historical
significance. My favorite remains the not-so-shiny robe worn by the
greatest minister in the history of Iran. But the robe of Amir Kabir
is just as breathtaking as the rest of the collection, even if not
for the same reason.

While it is very hard to choose one piece stands out - the world
largest uncut diamond of Daryayeh-E-Noor - that rightfully bears the
name that describes the entire collection, THE SEA OF LIGHT. This
is the sister diamond to the world's largest cut diamond, the "Kooh-e
Noor" which is its Persian name and means "The Mountain
of Light". Both were taken by Nader from India to Iran.

The Kooh-e Noor diamond was looted by Ahmed Beg upon the assassination
of Nader Shah of Iran in 1747. Ahmed Beg took the Kooh-e Noor diamond
along with other valuable jewels of the Iranian Crown Jewels and left
Iran. The gem was later taken to England where the East India Company
took possession of it. In 1850 it was presented to Queen Victoria.
At present it rests on one of the royal crowns and is kept in the
Tower of London. Daryay-E-Noor stayed in Iran to become the diamond
of the National Treasury.

The Coronation of Pahlavi

The Nader throne in the background is studded with an array of some
26,733 precious gems - mostly rubies, emeralds and diamonds, set in
a base of 23k gold.

Pahlavi Crown - Crown Jewels of Iran

The Pahlavi Crown has 3380 diamonds (totalling 1144 carats), the largest
(60 carats) being the central yellow diamond, in the middle of the
diamond sunburst. In three different rows there are a total of 369
natural pearls and around the crown there are 5 emeralds (the largest
around 100 carats) and some sapphires as well. Many of the elements
of the design of the crown were inspired by the crowns of the Sassanian
Dynasty crowns of Iran.
The largest of the 3,380 diamonds of the Pahlavi Crown of Iran is
a brilliant-cut yellow diamond of 60 cts. which is located in the
center of the front jewel.

The Imperial Sword of Iran

The whole handle, hilt and scabbard of the "Imperial sword"
or "Shahi Sword" of Iran is encrusted with around 3000 stones,
including large emeralds, rubies, diamonds and spinels. The sword
measures 103 cm.

Jewel-studded Coronation Cape

The upper part of the back of the 15 meters long dark-emerald green
velvet coronation cape of the former Iranian empress is studded with
a spectacular, colorful and sparkling array of the most precious diamonds,
rubies, emeralds and pearls which make up a beatiful pattern of Persian
paisley.

Spectacular Coronation Crown and Neckless wore by last queen.

Nour-ol Ayn Tiara - Crown Jewels

This beautiful tiara of the Iranian Crown Jewels, called the "Noor-ol-Ain"
Tiara was worn by Empress Farah for her wedding in 1959. The centerpiece
of this tiara is the Noor-ol-Ain diamond - a brilliant cut, almost
tear shaped diamond of approximately 60 cts - and one of the largest
pink diamonds in the world.

Tiara wore by last queen

Taj Kiani

Museum of Iran also includes the Taje Kiani (the crown
of Fath Ali Shah). This amazing collection has much to say about Iran,
its glittering history and its glorious past.

Nader Shah's diamond & rubies hat-tiara

Nader Shah Afshar wore this beautiful tiara around the base of his
tall Persian hats. This is not a female tiara, although it very well
could be. But it has never been worn by any female royalty.

The Nader Aigrette  Iran

The Nader Aigrette - Diamonds and emeralds Weighing 781 carats in
all, and standing 13 cm high (Approx. 6") And was worn by Nader
shah (1688-1747 A.D.) on the front of his Persian-style hat.

Princess Shahnaz Tiara

Princess Shahnaz of Iran was the oldest daughter of the last Shah
of Iran.

Princess Ashraf's Tiara

The tiara of Princess Ashraf Pahlavi - The last Shah of Iran's twin
sister.

Princess Fatemeh Tiara

This beautiful Tiara was actually commissioned during the reign of
the Qajar Dynasty (1779-1925 A.D.) Princess Fatemeh of the Pahlavi
Dynasty, one of the sisters of the last Shah of Iran, favored to wear
the tiara on several occasions.

Princess Shams Coronation Tiara

This diamond and emerald tiara was worn by the Shah's sister Princess
Shams at the coronation.